SALMON LEGISLATION. 151 



" clocking-hens for the lower heritors," and took an 

 absolute disgust at the process of incubation. Their 

 grounds were turned into mere lying-in hospitals and 

 nurseries ; they scarcely ever saw salmon but as infants, 

 as mothers in a delicate condition, and as invalids only 

 " as well as could be expected." They were to nurse them 

 when they were young, and to heal them when they were 

 sick ; and the people below were to kUl and sell them 

 when they had attained health, size, and weight. The 

 upper proprietors were to take care of them for two 

 years without killing them, and the lower proprietors, 

 who could take no care of them, were to kill them before 

 they had been two days, or perhaps two minutes, within 

 their realms. Of course the result was, that the unpro- 

 fitable duties were not performed hy those on whom 

 they naturally devolved, and no other class could act as 

 effective substitutes. The candle was thus being burned 

 at both ends — too many fish were kiUed at the bottom, 

 and too few were permitted to be born at the top. 

 How was this wasteful process to be stopped ? There 

 seemed nothing for it but a little abstinence and patience, 

 enforced by Act of Parliament if need be — burning 

 slower now, that there might be more to consume here- 

 after. 



It was so far fortunate that the lower proprietors 

 (though they were long of seeing it, and in some cases 

 affected not to see it even at the last) had it in their 

 power greatly to placate, though not, strictly speaking, 

 to profit the upper proprietors, without loss, and even 

 with benefit to themselves. What the upper proprietors 

 chiefly wanted was not fish, but fishing — not gain, but 



